PUPILS at a Lacey Green school have benefited from a £500,000 development which has linked their school together.

The link building at the St John's CE Combined School has joined the two separate buildings of the school and was officially opened yesterday.

The school now has a new staff room, a group room for one-to-one teaching, a new room for class two pupils, a purpose built office area and a refurbished playground.

Headteacher Paul De Wolf said: “We have now joined two buildings which has given us updated facilities. It means we are one school rather than two separate schools.

“We are a voluntary aided school. As a result we had to raise 10 per cent of the costs of the project.

“We have a fantastic parents association who raised £44,000 in 18 months as well as additional funds for the new playground.”

The rest of the money came from government funding.

Parents, governors and past pupils were invited to see the school yesterday, to watch performances from the pupils and to see the grand opening.

Class two pupils Molly McCallum, seven, and Thomas Daley, six, said they love their new classroom.

Thomas said: “We have lots more room to do things. Also we don't have to walk out in the rain to get to the hall.”

Molly added: “We can paint a lot more now as we have a sink in the room. I like the bigger room.”